Question Yes
1. Should open pit mining be
banned in the Philippines?
2. Should it be selective – some
place only?
3. Should it be permanent – 5,
10, 20 years?
4. Can it be done by Executive
Order or is a law necessary?
5. What is responsible mining?
Is it achievable or is it an
illusion?
No Suggested answer
• Mining per se is beneficial to our
government. As long as it is done
responsibly and rehabilitated properly,
mining should be allowed. The practice
of open pit mining is allowed and used
in different parts of the world. Mining
is also beneficial for our economy. As
when mining companies earn more,
they pay for more revenue as it is
required by law. When companies earn
more, that also means that the
government’s share is also more. Thus,
the government can maintain an
investment atmosphere conducive to
risk capital and avoid the influx of
illegal miners.
• Selected areas to be determined by the
authorized person or agency should
only be the place for mining. The
government should lay down
requisites as to whether or not an area
is capable of mining.
• Opportunities for a good investment
will be limited if the government would
implement permanent permits for
mining. Plus, it will take a lot of years to
rehabilitate and restore the destructed
area. So prolly 5-10 years will suffice.
• As long as it is not unconstitutional, an
EO or statue may be done.
• RA 7942 was enacted, instituting a new
system of mineral resources
exploration, development, utilization
and conservation in the country.
Responsible mining refers to advocacy
to reform mining activity, as well as to
a marketing strategy used by mining
companies to promote their
operations as environmentally or
socially sound.
Although the government may come
up with a good law, responsible mining
will only be achieved if the mining firms
or companies really cares with the
environment and the people.
Responsible mining is a difficult

6. Should open pit mining be
absolutely prohibited in the
Philippines?
7. Should there be a provisional
ban of all mining in the
Philippines pending a new
law that changes the revenue
distribution of mining
revenue?
8. What are the costs and
benefits allowing mining in
the Philippines?
process. But if the government and
people will help each other,
responsible mining is achievable.
• The Mining Act is constitutional. Under
the act, open pit mining as a method of
mining is allowed. As long as the
government conforms with the
Constitution and existing laws.
Open pit mining is a method of
extraction for ore or some energy
resource that occurs at the surface of a
mining site, making it more efficient
and offer some advantages over deep
shaft or underground mining. It is more
cost effective than shaft mining
because more ore can be extracted
quickly and efficiently. The working
conditions are safer because there is
less risk of flooding, cave-ins, rockfalls
or release of toxic gases. It is also
preferred method for mining gold,
silver, copper, nickel, iron, coal and
uranium. It is more economical and
efficient as it is cheaper to operate an
open mine because less manpower
and equipment are required. Space is
not restricted in open pit mining.
Trucks and machinery are free to move
around as they need to. More
machines can move more ore and haul
off waste rock more quickly. Open pit
mining also uses larger extraction
vehicles, increasing the amount of one
harvested per day.
However, this economy comes with a
strict environmental cost, as the
surface environment is destroyed and
polluted during the mining process. An
open pit mining virtually eliminates any
biologic life at the surface.
 9. Are local mining bans legal?
Policy wise, should they be
allowed?
• As per Section 8 of the Mining Act and
pursuant to Local Government Code
and other pertinent laws, the LGUs
have roles in mining projects within
their respective jurisdictions. However,
it must be noted that ordinances are
valid only if they are consistent with
the Constitution and existing laws and
that the national legislature is still the
principal of LGUs.

Sources:

http://philippine-resources.com/2017/11/17/open-pit-mining-ban-should-the-philippines-jump-onto-
the-bandwagon/

http://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1008908

Law on Natural Resources and Rules of Procedure for Environmental Cases by Justice Oswaldo Agcaoili,
2016